National
Solon backs infra exemption from poll ban
January 31, 2019, 2:23 pm
MANILA -- Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Thursday supported Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno's proposal to exempt big-ticket infrastructure projects from the election spending ban. In a statement, Recto said most infrastructure projects are already behind schedule and can be further… Read More
Reenacted budget translates to lost opportunities: Palace
January 31, 2019, 1:57 pm
MANILA -- Malacañang on Thursday described a reenacted budget for the entire 2019 as “lost opportunities for higher economic growth.” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this reaction after Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed on Wednesday to withdraw the Senate-approved… Read More
PDEA, BOC renew deal vs. drug smuggling
January 31, 2019, 1:55 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) renewed their partnership to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs) into the country. Under the memorandum of agreement signed by PDEA Director General… Read More
China donates P39-M to victims of Jolo blasts
January 31, 2019, 1:13 pm
MANILA -- The Chinese Embassy in Manila is donating 5 million renminbi (about PHP38.9 million) to the victims of the recent terror attack in Jolo, Sulu, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. revealed Thursday. In a tweet on his official account, Locsin thanked Ambassador Zhao Jianhua for… Read More
Stop baseless claims over Dengvaxia mess: DOH
January 31, 2019, 12:56 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday urged the public and government officials to stop spreading baseless allegations against the agency over the Dengvaxia controversy. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was reacting to allegations from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) that… Read More
Heroes’ Lounge for cops, soldiers now open in 24 airports
January 31, 2019, 12:14 pm
MANILA -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has put up Heroes Lounge in various airports across the country in honor of the heroism of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. “The initiative was launched to show appreciation and… Read More
Confirmation of military officers sign of mature democracy
January 31, 2019, 11:45 am
MANILA -- The confirmation of ranking military officers is a clear demonstration that the country's democracy is a mature one, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal said Wednesday. Madrigal's remarks came shortly after the Commission on Appointments (CA)… Read More
Filipino worker executed in Saudi Arabia
January 31, 2019, 11:38 am
MANILA -- A 39-year-old Filipino household service worker was executed for murder in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Thursday. The agency explained that the Philippine government was not able to save the Filipino service worker from death after the Saudi… Read More
Expect less corruption in coming years
January 31, 2019, 11:37 am
MANILA -- Filipinos can expect less corruption as the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte is relentless in combatting it, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said. This, as the Philippines gained its best score in five years in the 2018 Corruption Perception Index (CPI). "We expect to… Read More
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies for PH on Thursday
January 31, 2019, 11:24 am
MANILA -- Two weather systems continue to affect the country on Thursday, the weather bureau said. In its 4 a.m. forecast for Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the tail-end of a cold front is affecting Mindanao while the… Read More
ODA loans for 'Build, Build, Build' in favor of PH: DOF exec
January 31, 2019, 9:06 am
MANILA – Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans entered into by the government to finance the massive "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program are favorable to the Philippines, a finance official assured on Wednesday. In a press briefing in Malacañang, Department of Finance (DOF)… Read More
Banner stories of Manila's leading newspapers, Thu. Jan. 31, 2019
January 31, 2019, 6:41 am
INQUIRER -- Bloody Wednesday PHILIPPINE STAR -- Military launches offensive in Sulu MANILA BULLETIN -- 2 killed in Zamboanga mosque blast DAILY TRIBUNE -- Religious war fanned MANILA TIMES -- 2 dead in Zambo mosque attack MANILA STANDARD -- Zambo blast kills 2, hurts 4 MALAYA -- 2 dead in… Read More
Fewer voters in 2nd BOL plebiscite seen due to Jolo blasts
January 30, 2019, 9:27 pm
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) sees a decrease in the participation of voters in the second Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on February 6 following Sunday's twin blasts that rocked a church in Jolo, Sulu, its spokesperson said Wednesday. “In the sense that there will be those who… Read More
Legarda to consider reenacted budget proposal in bicam talks
January 30, 2019, 8:57 pm
MANILA -- Senator Loren Legarda said Wednesday she would take into consideration the reenacted budget proposal of Senate President Vicente Sotto III in the congressional bicameral conference meeting on the proposed 2019 national budget. In a text message, Legarda said the technical staff of both… Read More
CA junks DOLE 'endo' suit vs. PLDT, subcontractor
January 30, 2019, 8:55 pm
MANILA -- The Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) decision which found an engineering and construction company along with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) guilty of unfair labor practices. In an 18-page decision dated January 24 penned… Read More
PH global corruption index ranking seen to improve further
January 30, 2019, 7:41 pm
MANILA - Malacañang on Wednesday reiterated President Rodrigo R. Duterte's commitment to combat corruption as the Philippines received its best score in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in five years. "The President has truly displayed leadership by example and we expect to see further… Read More
House panel approves bill reviving ROTC
January 30, 2019, 7:17 pm
MANILA -- The House of Representatives’ Committee on Basic Education and Culture on Wednesday approved a bill seeking to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) training for senior high school students in public and private schools throughout the country. The still unnumbered… Read More
PH climbs 12 notches in global corruption index
January 30, 2019, 7:12 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines significantly improved in the 2018 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) conducted by anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, receiving its best score in the last five years. In the report released Tuesday, the Philippines scored 36 points for 2018 from 34 in… Read More
Saudi investment mission ‘fruitful’: Arroyo
January 30, 2019, 6:22 pm
MANILA -- Former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday said the investment mission that she led in Saudi Arabia has been fruitful. In an ambush interview with reporters, Arroyo said the investment mission came out with six specific project proposals that she hoped… Read More
Pinoy nurses hired thru PH-Germany project to get wage hike
January 30, 2019, 6:20 pm
MANILA -- Filipino nurses who were hired to work in Germany starting this month will get an additional 100 euros in their salaries, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said on Wednesday. In an advisory, the agency noted that the German government has announced the increase of… Read More
